Electrosurgical instrument.



Patented June l7, I902.

a. H. WAPPLER. ELECTRDSURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed June 10, 1901.)

(N0 Model.)

m: ymms warms co, Puoraumu, WASHlNGYON,-D. c4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

REINHOLD H. WAPPLER, OF NE YORK, N. .Y.

ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of'Letters Patent No. 702,752, dated June 1 7,- 1902.

1 Application filed June 10, 1901. Serial No. 63,842. (No model.)

1 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, REINHoLD H. W'APPLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of-Manhattan, city, county,- and State 5 of New York, have invented an Improvement in Electrosurgical Instruments, of following is a specification.

My present invention relates to electrosurgical'instruments, and particularly to such instruments as are used in diagnosing and treating urinaryand gastric diseases. In carrying out, my invention I employ two tubes of metal, the one within the other, with the tubes connected and the spaces between the same at theends thereof sealed and with an insulated conductor lengthwise between the tubes and means for sealing the tubes-at the respectiveends of the electrical conductor and providing for contact therewithof eleczo trical devices. I prefer to place the tubes eccentric and to employ an incandescent elec-' tric lamp at one end. The inner tubeis openended and the forward end cut at an angle.

I employ novel terminals 'forjthe insulated conductor, which are sealed in an especial manner. I provide removable. and interchangeable tubes adapted to be passed within theaforesaid tubes andused' for the purpose of cleansing-and examining the-interior 0 parts or organ affected, all of which,'.including the details of the construction, are hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the'drawings,Figure 1 is a-longitudinal section of my improved instrument. Fig. 2 is a cross-section-on line a; 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section 'onliney y, Fig. 1. Fig; 4

is an outside View of a a removable telescopic tube adapted to fit within the instrument and to be employed for examinational purposes. 0 Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of aremovable partwhich fits within the instrument and is used for cleansing purposes. Figs. '6 and 7 are elevationsand partial sections enibodying modificationsof my invention.-

Referring to Fig. 1, a'represents a tube. of metal or other suitable---material, and b 'a smaller tube, of similar material, placed within the tube a and eccentric thereto :(see Fig. 3) and open-ended. These tubes may be se- 5o cured together inanydesired manner, and while preferably straight and secured along or at their contacting surfaces they may be which the of anyconfiguration adapted to suit the requirements of a particular use. The spaces between the tubes at their respective ends are permanently and hermetically closed by solder. t

- The tubular end a is secured to the'outside tube a, is preferably of reduced radius, and is ofiset from the axial line of the tube. The under side of theju'nction or ends of these tubesa and b iscut away at an angle, as

terial c-sueh, for instance, as gutta-percha. The endof the portion a of the tubes is externally threaded at 3 and adapted to receive the lampand screws on to the end 3 of the offset portion ct of the tube a,"the lamp being employed to illuminate the interior part to be examined.

The other end of the tube ctis providedwith an enlarged tubular 'portion or sleevfef, which may be integral therewith or' otherwise and having a shoulder 6'a nd threaded exterior [7. The interiorof the sleevefis preferably of appreciably greater diameter than the tubea, thus leaving an annular recess 8 between the parts. The lamp-termin'als' comprise a 1 ring g, which screws on the sleeve fand abuts against the shoulder 6 and is provided with an annular semicircular groove. The other contact -'ring h, whose inside diameter is The space in the open end of the oifset tube a may be filled with an insulatingimaegreater than the outside diameter of the threaded sleeve f,is also provided with an annular semicircular groove and is held in position bya lock-nut t, being--insulated therefrom and also' from thering'g by washers 30 31. lock-nut t are undercut at their opposing edges,so as to'exert awedging action between the parts and hol'dthe ring? in position.

Electrical connections aremade from the The ring hfis flaring and the ring gand' ringh to one terminalof the lamp, preferably 7 by means of a metal strip 9, which is advantageously wound with tape or covered with other insulating material and'passed between the tubes at and I), both ends of which are insulated from the tube b. "An insulating-ring k and outer contacting metal ring m surround the inner tube 12, and one end of the tion in Fig. 5.

conductor 9 is secured to the ring m, and a pin 10, which passes freely through a hole in the sleeve fand is secured in the ring it, bears upon the ring m. The other end of the copper conductor 9 passes through the insulating material 0 and is contacted with by one terminal of the lamp. The return-circuit is made through the body of the instrument to the ring g. The outer end of the recess 8 is plugged, preferably by an annulus of metal 11, which, together with the soldered joint 0 at the opposite end, hermetically seal up the space between the tubes and make the same even water-tight.

The instrument may be provided with an end eye-shield Z, adapted to screw on over the sleeve fand used for the purpose of facilitating sight through the instrument. The annular semicircular grooves in the rings h and g are adapted to receive the spring-contacts 12 and 13 of an electric switch 14. (See Fig.

'2.) A switch especially applicable for this purpose is shown and described in Letters Patent No. (356,870, granted to me August 28, 1900.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a telescopic tube 91, provided with suitable lenses and an end eyeshield Z and adapted to be passed through the inner tube 1). After the instrument has been inserted for the detection of disease the telescopic tube a maybe employed for the better inspection of the interior parts, the said tube being of such length thatits end may be passed beyond the tapered opening at the end of the instrument. For washing the interior walls of the bladder or other afiected organ I provide a tube 15, within which are two smaller tubes 16 and 17, as shown in sec- The smaller tubes are arranged as a supply and return for the cleansing fluid. The orifice 18 of the supply-tube 16 is preferably in the end of the tube 15, which end is made to conform to the shape of the end of the tubes a and Z) of the instrument. The intake 19 of the return-tube 17 is preferably in the side of the tube 15 near the end thereof and on top in reference to the tapering portion. The other end of the returntube 17 is preferably somewhat longer than that of the supply-tube, these ends being adapted to receive rubber tubes or other means for conveying the fluid. The tube 15 is just long enough to pass within the tube 1) and is preferablyof such'a length that when the collar 20 on tube 15 abuts against the end of tube b the tapered end of tube 15 coincides with the tapered ends of tubes a and b. Thus the open end of the tube 5 is filled up and the insertion of the instrument facilitated. The object of having the return-tube 17, as shown and described, with the intake in the side and the end longer than the supply-tube is because by knowing the position of the instrument the ends of the tubes 15 and b may not only be made to coincide exactly, but be so maintained while the instrument is being inserted in the body, so as not to cause any cured to the branch 21.

used.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the electric-lightend of the instrument is offset so that the axial line thereof is parallel to that of the main portion of the instrument. In this construction the electric-light bulb d is preferably secured directlywithin the end cap e, and the base of the lamp screws in the end of the offset portion. In Fig. 6 I have also shown a modified terminal for the electrical connections leading to the lamp. The tube a in this instance is provided with a branch 21, which latter is filled with an insulating material 22, and a dome-like cap 23 is adapted to screw on or otherwise be se- The cap 23 is partially filled with insulating material, in the center of which is a terminal 24, to which a lead-wire 25 is connected. When the cap 23 is in place, the terminal 24; contacts with a terminal 26 in the insulating material 22, the

terminal 26 being electrically connected to the platinum strip or conductor, which leads to the lamp, the return-circuit being made through the body of the instrument to the second lead-wire 27, connected directly to the cap 23.

It is sometimes necessary to examine the lower side walls of an interior ailected organ, and to make this possible the instrument may be provided with an opening 28 in the tube a (see Fig. 7) opposite to the open end of the tube 1) and a prism 29 secured to the end of the telescope-tube n in a modified telescopic instrument. The instruments Figs. 1 and 7 are especially adapted for use with the organs of the male, While the instrument Fig. 6 is especially adapted for use with the organs of the female. The instrument Figs. 1, 4, and 5 is adapted for treatment and examination of stomach troubles, and the instruments Figs. 4 and 5 are adapted for use with the devices Figs. 1, 6, and 7. In this modification the light of the lamp (Z shines in a direction to reflect the image through the prism and lens to the eye of the observer.

I claim as my invention 1. In an electrosurgical instrument and in combination, two eccentrically-placed inner and outer tubes connected at their contacting surfaces, means for closing the spaces between the same at their respective ends, an insulated conductor longitudinally of the tubes in the space between the same, and means for sealing the tubes at the respective ends of the electrical conductor and providing for contact therewith of electrical devices, substantially as specified.

2. In an electrosurgical instrument and in combination, two eccentrically-placed inner and outer tubes connected at their contacting surfaces, means for closing the spaces between the same at their respective ends, an.

insulated conductor longitudinally of the tubes in the space between the same, and means for connecting to one end of said tubes an electric lamp and means connected to the other end of said tubes for attachment thereto of electric terminals, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electrosurgical instrument and in combination, two eccentrically-placed inner and outer tubes connected at their contacting surfaces so that the inner tube is openelectrical conductor and providing for contact therewith of electrical devices, and a device adapted'to be inserted through the openendedinner tube for complementing the functions of the instrument, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electrosurgical instrument, and in combination, two tubes placed the one within the other and connected together, means for closing the space between v the same at their respective ends, an insulated-conductor longitudinally of the tubes in the space between the same and means for sealing the tubes, at the respective ends of the electrical conductor and providing for contact therewith of electrical devices, substantially as specified.

5. In an electrosurgical instrument,the combination with two eccentrically-placed tubes secured together at their contacting surfaces and having the open space between the same at the ends thereof sealed, of an electric lamp secured in an offset position at one end of said tubes, terminals secured to the other end of said tubes,electrical connections between one of said terminals and one of the lamp-terminals, and means contacting with the said terminals for opening and closing the circuit through the lamp, substantially asset forth.

6. In an electrosurgical instrument and in combination, two tubes placed the one within the other and connected together, means for closing the space between the same at their respective ends, an insulated conductor longitudinally of the tubes in the space between the same and means for connecting to one end of said tubes an electric lamp, and means connected to the other end of said tubes for attachment thereto of electric terminals, substantially asspecifie'd.

7. In an electrosurgicalinstrument the combination with two eccentric tubes secured together,'having one endcut at an angle and the open space between the tubes at both ends sealed, of an electric lamp in an offset positionsecured to the tubes at the end thereof,

Said tubes from the said terminals to the said lamp, and a device adapted to be inserted through the open-ended inner tube for complementing the functions ofthe instrument, substantially as specified.

8. In an electrosnrgical instrument,the combination with two eccentric tubes secured together having one endv cut at an angle and the open space between the tubes atzboth ends sealed, of an electric lamp in an offset position secured to the tubes at the end thereof cut at an angle, electrical terminals at the other end of the said tubes, a switch having I spring-contacts adapted to bear upon said terminals, and electrical connections between the said tubes from the said terminals to the said lamp, substantially as specified.

9. In an electrosurgicalinstrument,the combination with two eccentric tubes secured together, having one end cut at an angle and the open space between the tubes at both ends sealed, of an electric lampin an offset position secured to the tubes at the end thereof cut at an angle, electrical terminals atthe other end of the said tubes, a switch having spring-contacts adapted to bear upon said terminals, electrical connections between the said tubes from the said terminals to the said lamp, and a tube fitting the inner of the aforesaid tubes and occupying such position during the insertion of the instrument and hav- ,ing one end made to conform to the eccentric tubes which are cut at an angle, the saidtube the other, an insulated conductor longitudirounding the same at one end and contacting with the closing device at the said end, and exteriorly threaded," and devices surrounding the said sleeve and in'part insulated therefrom andwhich devices form electrical contacts with the outer tube and with the inner insulated conductor respectively and are adapted for connection with external electric conductors, substantially as set forth.

11. In an electrosurgical instrument,v the combination with two eccentrically-placed inner and outer tubes connected at theincontacting surfaces with the inner tube at one end longerthan the outer tube, of means for closing the spaces between the tubes at one end, a sleeve surrounding the outer tube at its end and of greater diameter'exteriorly threaded and extending to the end of the 'inner tube, an annulus between the sleeve and the inner tube secured thereto for closing this end of the eccentrically-placed tubes, an

insulated conductor longitudinally of. the

tubes in the space between the same'and having a terminalwithin the sleeve, devices surrounding the said sleeve and insulated from one another and through which metallic contacts are formed with the sleeve and with the end of the insulated conductor within the sleeve and which devices are adapted for contact with external electrical devices, substantially as set forth.

12. In an electrosurgical instrument, the combination with two eccentrically-placed inner and outer tubes connected at their contacting surfaces with the inner tube at one end longer than the outer tube, of means for closing the spaces between the tubes at one end, a sleeve surrounding the outer tube at its end and of greater diameter exterior-1y threaded and extending to the end of the inner tube, an annulus between the sleeve and the inner tube secured thereto for closing this end of the eccentrically-placed tubes, an insulated conductor longitudinally of the tubes in the space between the same, an insulatingring and an outer metal ring surrounding the inner tube with one end of the said conductor connected to said metal ring, a series of rings insulated from one another and surrounding the said sleeve, one of said rings being in metallic contact with the sleeve and another of said ringsin metallic contact with the end of the insulated conductor within the sleeve and said rings adapted for connection with outside electrical devices, substantially as set forth.

13. In an electrosurgical instrument, the combination with two eccen trically-placed inner and outer tubes connected at their contacting surfaces with the inner tube at one end longer than the outer tube, of means for closing the spaces between the tubes at one end, a sleeve surrounding the outer tube at its end and of greater diameter exteriorly threaded and extending to the end of the inner tube, an annulus between the sleeve and the inner tube secured thereto for closing this end of the eccentrioally-placed tubes, an insulated conductor longitudinally of the tubes in the space between the same, an insulatingring and an outer metal ring surrounding the inner tube with one end of the said conductor connected to said metal ring, a ring 9 surrounding and screwing upon the sleeve f, a ring it larger than the sleeve surrounding the same and a lock-nut i also screwing upon the sleeve with the ring it between and insulated from the lock-nut, and the ring g, a pin passing through the ring h and freely through a hole in the sleeve and contacting forcefully with the ring to which the insulated conductor is connected, substantially as set forth.

l-t. I11 an electrosurgical instrument, the

combination with two eccentrically-placed in ner and outer tubes connected at their contacting surfaces with the inner tube at one end longer than the outer tube, of means for closing the spaces between the tubes at one end, a sleeve surroui'iding the outer tube at its end, of greater diameter, exteriorly threaded and extending to the end of the inner tube, an annulus between the sleeve and the inner tube secured thereto for closing this end of the eccentrically-placed tubes, an insulated conductor longitudinally of the tubes in the space between the same, an insulating-ring and an outer metal ring surrounding the inner tube with one end of the said conductor connected to said metal ring, a ring g surrounding and screwing upon the sleeve f, a ring 77, larger than the sleeve surrounding the same, and a loclt-nut i also screwing upon the sleeve with the ring 7L between and insulated from the lock-nut and the ring g, a pin passing through the ring 7t and freely through a hole in the sleeve and contacting forcefully with the ring to which the insulated condoctor is connected, the ring h being flaring in cross-section and the opposing edges of the ring 9 and the lock-nut 2' being undercut, so that the insulating-Washers are at an inclination, the said parts exerting awedge-like action to hold the ring 72, in position, the rings 72 and g having annular semicircular grooves adapted for connection with external electrical devices, substantially as set forth.

15. In an electrosurgical instrument and in combination, a pair of tubes one within the other, an insulated conductor longitudinally of the tubes in the space between the same, means for closing the space between the tubes at their respective ends, means for sealing the tubes at the respective ends of the insulated electrical conductor, means for connecting to one end of said tubes an electric lamp in an offset position, and electric connections therefrom to one end of the insulated conductor, lead-wires and terminals from a source of electric energy, an insulated terminal connected to the other end of the insulated conductor, means for covering the latter insulated terminal and to which means one lead-wire is electrically connected and insulated devices electrically connecting the other lead-wire with the insulated terminal, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 5th day of June, 1901.

REINHOLD H. \VAPPLER.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, T. HAVILAND.

IIO 

